Work keeps Lea on target for Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lea, beaten a neck by Noble Bird in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Tuesday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 8.

Starting two lengths behind a stablemate, Lea went his first furlong in 13 seconds, drew alongside the workmate after three furlongs in 37.20 seconds, and they came to the wire together with a last quarter in 24.20.

Trainer Bill Mott said he was pleased with the move, which keeps Lea on target for the Whitney, a race he was pointing to last year before physical issues forced him to miss the final nine months of the year.

Lea has run four times this year, winning the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope before finishing second in the Grade 1 Donn, third in the Dubai World Cup, and second in the Stephen Foster.